Saturday, December 26, 2015

Margo rounded the corner of her ordinary life filled with
ups and downs and she saw the cross high on the steeple of her church. Hope
surrounded that cross. Love emanated from that cross. Peace filled her heart.
Her ordinary life was not ordinary but extraordinary.From this day forward she would let Christ
fill her days, the Holy Spirit fill her spirit, and God the Father fill her
soul. She would understand the need for God in every breath. She would seek the
Spirit’s guidance. She would allow Christ to be her voice.

Response to life’s problems would be through prayer. Margo
would not let Satan’s ills pull her away from her faith. She would not let the
world dampen her spirit. She would not let grace escape her soul. Her beliefs
would keep her strong and resilient.

When a believer puts their entire world in the hands of her
God, she should expect to be tested, often immediately. That is what happened
to Margo. Just as she was moving into her final phase of life lived happily with
her renewed convictions, Illness troubled her. She had fought the fear of
illness her entire life, for herself and loved ones. Her father had died after
a struggle of a few years. Her mother succumbed to her dementia and died not
even recognizing her one and only daughter.

With age came the fear of losing other family, her husband
most of all. Margo found her strength in him as well as her Lord. The two of
them had pulled and pushed her forward this last decade. When she had wanted to
stay in bed with the covers over her head, they encouraged her to get up and
face the day. When she had wanted to give up and die, they committed to staying
with her no matter what. When she failed at life or fell off her dreams, they
tugged her back on track.

Now in this last act of her play in life, Margo knew she
must trust God more than she ever had even thought possible. She knew that her
husband needed her as much as she needed him and despite their son’s new life
married and making a home, he still needed her too; as well as her lovely daughter-in-law.

With each passing day, in crisis or bliss, Margo prayer to
her God, “Father in heaven, never leave me and I will never leave you. You are
a heavenly sovereign of glorious peace. Be with everyone I love. Protect them.
Allow me to share my blessings with as many as possible. Use my talents for
your purposes not my own. Forgive my forgetfulness. Forgive my idleness. In
your sweet son’s name, Christ, Amen.”

Margo lived out her days with this prayer. She continued to
care for her family. She created art and shared it freely giving message and
joy to any and all who would accept it. She taught her world to see God as head
of their hearts.

Long after Margo was no longer in this world, her legacy of
god-fearing, creative inspiration lived on. Her grandchildren and
great-grandchildren walked her roads of faith even when Satan’s ills tested
them. They grew into creative lives of their own, sharing their talents and
blessings with everyone they met.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Children getting new toys, parents of a new baby thought
impossible, and newlyweds.

What does it look like?

Smiles. Hugs. Peaceful gazes.

Happy children, visiting loved ones, tired parents.

What does it taste like?

Mom’s biscuits. Grandma’s Koolaid cupcakes. Loving kisses.

Only she could make, taken to school to share, new and old
couples

What does it smell like?

A clean house. Hot coffee.Baby powder.

Even if for only one hour, shared with friends and family, a
new baby

What does it feel like?

The first day of vacation. The last day of school. The
middle of a holiday.

Kiawah of course, no more lesson plans, and time left to
sleep in or stay up and watch that favorite movie

I learned that clarity takes focus. Clarity takes effort.
It’s always there but we have to look for it, recognize it, embrace it and
accept it. Clarity may not point to what we want but it always points to what
really is. Clarity finds truth and fact.

Clarity is genuine. Clarity is a happier way to be. We often
try to live a fantasy but that’s not good. Life is about being truly authentic
and genuinely honest.

Clarity begins with me. I have to want it and accept the
lessons it teaches. Limitations exist but I can choose to be clear in my dreams
and goals. Clarity is not totally bound by your age, race, sex, or anything
else really. I recently had this “clarity” ah ha moment. Hilary Clinton is 70
and going to run for president of the US. She could be 78 when she finishes two
terms. If she can do that why can’t I have the dreams and desires of my heart?

SO keep making goals, lists, and dreams and fighting for
them.

clarity of heart

brings complete trust

clarity of mind

brings total peace

clarity of soul

brings full grace

clarity of spirit

brings entire joy

Clarity must involve God. Clarity must live in the spirit
realm of living. Clarity is a choice to believe in what is true, real, good,
and God’s will. Clarity is a way to live every day. Clarity is a gift from God.
Clarity is part skill and part effort. It is part ability and part work. It is
part of every breath.